The 2003 Sierra Club Hackett Hill hike - an activity organized by the Merrimack Valley Group of the NH Sierra Club - took place on May 31, 2003. This year, the hike was along the trail system constructed by The Nature Conservancy through a portion of its ecological preserve - The Manchester Cedar Swamp. Thirteen Sierra Club members and friends assembled at a parking area near the trailhead and received an overview of the hike from Steve Richey, hike leader.

At a kiosk near the trailhead, hikers picked up a copy of a brochure that outlined the trail and described what may be seen along the way. The brochure was prepared by The New Hampshire Natural Heritage Program, NH Division of Forests & Lands, DRED. The trail and it's features are shown below ina map that appears in the brochure.

After leaving the kiosk (1) Hikers followed the "Woodland Loop" shown above. The trail led through a forest where common trees included white pine, red oak and yellow birch. Many boulders rose above the ground to either side of the trail. The group then proceeded to a small portion of a large Atlantic white cedar swamp (3,4) where bog bridges permitted them to view the cedars close up, as well as numerous cinnamon ferns, and swamp dwelling shrubs and herbs growing in a green carpet of spaghum moss.

The group then followed the Woodland Loop down an incline. They bypassed the trail's Rhododendron Loop since the recent heavy rains had made fording Millstone Brook difficult. A lunch break was made near an area flooded by beaver activity and several woodpecker species were spotted amongst the snags.

 

The hikers then completed the "Woodland Loop", passed by a large boulder (9) and returned to the trailhead. Everyone agreed it was an excellent introduction to the Manchester Cedar Swamp Preserve and planned to return to the Preserve when the Rhododendrons were in blossom and more accessible via Millstone Brook.

HOME